The grieving family of the late Kenyan blogger Albert Ojwang is facing fresh anguish following a shocking revelation that a substantial portion of funds donated by well-wishers has been lost to fraud.
Albert Ojwang, whose tragic death had already devastated his family and supporters, is now at the centre of another heartbreaking episode—this time involving his father, Meshack Opiyo.
Following Ojwang’s untimely demise, renowned comedian Eric Omondi made a public appeal on social media, urging Kenyans to rally behind the bereaved family. In the emotional appeal, Omondi shared Opiyo’s M-Pesa number, calling on well-wishers to contribute financially and help ease the family’s burden.
The public responded with overwhelming generosity. Within a short period, donations poured into Opiyo’s two M-Pesa accounts. However, the hopeful moment turned into another nightmare when it emerged that Opiyo had lost access to the funds.
Family spokesperson Kenneth Ouma disclosed the shocking details during an appearance on the Obinna Show.
According to Ouma, the tragic twist began when Meshack Opiyo lost his national identity card while at the City Mortuary in Nairobi—likely during the chaotic and emotional process of identifying and collecting his son’s body.
Unbeknownst to Opiyo at the time, the loss of his ID would have severe consequences. Shortly after the incident, unknown individuals reportedly used the stolen identification document to fraudulently perform a SIM swap.
By impersonating Opiyo and using the lost ID, the scammers convinced a mobile service provider to issue a new SIM card with access to his accounts.
This allowed the culprits to take control of Opiyo’s M-Pesa lines and transfer the donated funds into their own accounts, effectively locking him out. By the time the fraud was discovered, a significant amount of the donated money had already been siphoned away.
The family has reported the matter to authorities, and investigations are currently underway to trace those responsible for the fraudulent activity. They are also working with Safaricom and law enforcement to recover the funds and prevent further losses.
Ouma emphasized the emotional toll the incident has had on the family, who are still struggling to come to terms with Albert Ojwang’s death. “It’s like rubbing salt into an open wound,” he said.
“People gave out of love, and now that money is gone. We’re not only mourning Albert but now also dealing with the pain of being robbed.”
The situation has sparked renewed calls for better protection of M-Pesa users and the need for more stringent identity verification processes to prevent SIM swap fraud.
Advocates are urging mobile operators to implement additional security layers, especially in cases involving sensitive donations or large transactions.
In the meantime, Kenyans online have expressed outrage over the incident, demanding swift action against those responsible and offering renewed support to the family. Some well-wishers have called for a new fundraising drive—this time using a more secure platform to ensure that the funds reach the intended beneficiaries.
As investigations continue, the Ojwang family remains hopeful that justice will be served. They are appealing to the public to stay vigilant and to support them not only with financial help but also with prayers and solidarity during this deeply painful time.
